Student will present Ernie Davis mural to school Friday

Elmira High School senior Kevin Strong wants to win a $12,000 scholarship and spread the word of the legacy of Ernie Davis.

At 10:15 a.m. Friday at Ernie Davis Academy, he will present a four-foot by six-foot mural he painted of the hometown hero to the school's assistant principal, Tim Hassen.

The school district said Strong spent over 50 hours painting the mural of Davis, who grew up in Elmira where he is as much revered for his character as his athletic prowess. In 1961, Davis became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, college football's top honor. He died in 1963 of leukemia.

The mural includes the words "Ernie Davis Academy" and "Honoring the Legacy of Ernie Everyday with Integrity and Perseverance." It is part of Strong's project to win the $12,000 Ernie Davis Scholarship presented annually.